Pair Of Vases Flanking Bandstand

656-1/29/1434 05/08/75

ROYAL VICTORIA PARK Pair of Vases flanking Bandstand (Formerly Listed as: VICTORIA PARK Pair of Vases flanking Bandstand)

GV II

Pair of large marble vases flanking bandstand (qv). Carrara marble vases set within Portland stone aedicules. Carved laurel wreaths with ribbon ties to bases encircling letter `J' on southern face. Bases of vases and bases of looped handles to each side ornamented with acanthus leaf carving. Each vase stands on block base on a plain solid stone plinth, set within an aedicule with simplified columns at each angle, carrying a canopy with block top, coved cornice, and inscribed frieze. HISTORY: Inscription reads: "These vases, the gift of Napoleon Buonaparte to the Empress Josephine (1805) were brought from France after the Peninsular War by Col. Page and bequeathed by the will of Joseph Fuller Esq. of 19 Lansdown Crescent (1874) to the Royal Victoria Park. They were restored and protected by Capt. Huth (1914)." These vases, possibly designed by Percier and Fontaine, were probably produced at the Carrara marble manufactory. Their provenance is remarkable. They have undergone recent conservation, especially to the handles. Victoria Park was laid out in 1830 on the former Barton Fields, an area of common land and was opened by the Duchess of Kent with her daughter, Princess Victoria, on October 23rd 1830. It was the country's first municipal park. SOURCES: Bath History: Whalley R: The Royal Victoria Park: Bath: 1994-: 147-169.

Listing NGR: ST7442065207